Suction-cleaner.



' W; W. ROSENFIELD.

. SUCTION CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, 19W. RENEWED MAR. 13. 1915.

1,286,115 I Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

W. W ROSENFIELD.

SUCTION CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, law. RENEWED MAR. 13.1915.

I UNITED STATES 'WILLI [AM W. ROSENFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUCTION-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed April 14, 1910, Serial No. 555.426. Renewed March 13. 1915. Serial No. 14.229.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. ROSEIL FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Cleaners, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to suction cleaners of that class in which the efliciency of the apparatus is due to the use of a suction fan which has a high volume capacity so as to be able to suck in and discharge air in such quantity as to malntain the required suction at the cleaning nozzle with the use of a nozzle opening sufliciently large to draw in not only fine dust and dirt but also scraps and articles of considerable size.

The invention relates more particularly to a suction cleaner of the self-contained type in which the motor, fan, suction nozzle and dirt receptacle are mounted to move together as the suction or cleaning nozzle is moved over the surface to be cleaned; and the invention aims generally to provide a suction cleaner of this type, which shall have .to a high degree the qualities and characteristics of lightness, efliciency, simplicity and durability, besides possessing other advantages peculiar to itself. While the invention has been made especially with the idea of providing such a self-contained suction cleaner, intended primarily for cleaning carpets, rugs or other floor coverings, or 'uncarpeted floors of wood or othermaterial, it will be understood that features of the invention may be applied to other apparatus to which they may be found applicable.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of a construction embodying the various features of the invention in the preferred form, and such a description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure l is a view showing the suction cleaner in position for operation, and show-.

ing also, by dotted lines, the operating handle thrown up to vertical position.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section on line 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the motor oil cups.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of, the operating handle on line 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isa face view of the suction fan.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 of Fig. 7

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a rotary suction fan mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis in a fan casing 11. The fan is mounted on and driven by theshaft 12 of an electric motor 13, which is mounted in a supporting case 15. The rear wall of the fan casing 11 is formed by a platejl6 which is secured to the motor case 15 and forms a partition wall between the motor chamber and the fan chamber. The motor case 15 is formed in two halves a and '6, meeting in a horizontal plane and the upper half I) being secured to the lower half a and to the plate 16 so as to be readily removable to give access to the motor and to permit the motor to be placed into and removed from the case 15. The front and side walls of the fan casing are also removable from the plate 16 to give access to the fan, the two parts of the fan casing being detachably secured together by suitable means, such as the screw held clips shown.

The front wall of the fan casing is formed with a central opening and has secured to it a downwardly extending casing 20 providing an intake passage,'the lower end of the casing bein contracted in the direction longitudinal o the machine and extended transversely of the machine to form a suction or cleaning nozzle 21 having a horizontal bottom edge or face formed with an elongated intake slot or opening which extends transversely of the direction in which the cleaner is moved. The length of the nozzle passage from the intake -slot to the center of the opening into the fan chamber through the front wall of the fan casing is substantially the same as the distance of the Y dust received from the fan, including all scraps and articles drawn in through the suction nozzle and discharged through the pipe 23. A bag of suitable close woven fabric forms the best receptacle, one end of the bag being connected to the discharge pipe as by being secured to a short pipe length 25. adapted to slip over the'end of the pipe 23 as shown, and the other end of the bag being suitably supported from the operating handle, as shown, and being formed with an opening for cleaning out the bag, which opening is normally closed by a spring clip 26.

A pair of running wheels 27 are mounted on pins carried by supporting brackets 28 extending downward from the rearward part of the motor case, one on either side of the discharge pipe 23. An operating handle rod 30 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the motor case to swing vertically, as shown at 31. The motor is supplied with current from any suitable and convenient source through the wires of a cable 31 which leads from the motor through an opening in the lower part of the case 15 and then up along the handle to nearits upper end. The cable is conveniently housed in a groove 32 formed in the under side of the handle rod, being held therein by clips 33.

In use, the cleaner stands normally in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 4, supported partly by the wheels 27 and partly by the suction nozzle, and ismoved to carry the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned by.

means of the handle rod. 'The fan 10 rotating at high speed draws the air in strongly through the intake passage and forces it out through-the discharge passage, and dirt and dust from the carpet or rug or other material or surface over which the cleaner is movedare thus drawn in through the nozzle and intake passage into the fan chamber and discharged through the passage 22 and pipe 23 into the receiving bag. 24, where the dust and dirt are'retained while the air escapes freely. The intake slot of the nozzle being of considerable width, and the intake passage above the nozzle bemg of comparatively large crosssection,-scraps ofvpaper and other articles of quite considerablesize will be picked up and collectedin the bag 24. The running tion directly in' contact with the article or surface to be cleaned, and in normal operation over a smooth surface the handle rod is used only for imparting forward or backward movement to and for directing the cleaner,- and is therefore'preferably attached to the cleaner'so as to be free to swing vertically as shown to accommodate itself to the hand of the person operating the cleaner. It is frequently desirable, however, in using the cleaner to lift the nozzle away from the floor as in passing over edges of rugs and in running over door sills or other obstructions, in picking up pieces of paper, etc. To enable the nozzle to be readily lifted, a chain 35 is provided secured to the plate 16 and adapted to be caught over a hook 36 on the handle bar. The chain will thus act as a stop device to limit the downward swinging of the handle bar relatively to the cleaner, so that if the handle is pressed downward beyond the position at which the chain becomes taut, the cleaner will be tilted backward 0 11 the running wheels to lift the nozzle as shown in Fig. 2. The effective length of the chain may be varied by simply catching/a different link on the hook, and the angle of inclination of the handle at which the chain will'become which the cleaner is moved back and forth,

that is, it rests with the edges of the intake,

slot in contact with the surface to be cleaned. It is especially desirable in a cleaner of this kind, in order to do satisfactory and uniform work, toprovide for sufiicient but not; too great pressure of the nozzleon the sur-' face to be cleaned, and to avoid any considerable variation of said pressure as the cleaner is used. An .efiicient working pressure of the nozzle on 'the surface to be cleaned is secured in the machine shown having the'nozzle projecting downward in I front of the fan casing by locating the running wheels back of the center of gravity of the machine but in position to bear the greater art of the weight of the machine; and uni orm, or substantially uniform, and

constant pressure of the nozzle on the surface to be cleaned is secured by having'the operating handle pivotally connected to the machine to swing vertically. Having the operating handle connected to swing vertically, besides avoiding the variation in prese sure of the nozzle on the surface to be cleaned which would result in using the machine if the handle were rigidly connected thereto, is also of advantage from the standpoint of the convenience in operating the machine, and in avoiding the necessity of care in operating to maintain the nozzle in contact with the surface to be cleaned.

' To provide the required suction, it is necessary to have the fan driven at a very highing the operation of the motor and fan, the I air being drawn from the motor chamber through the opening 40 into the fan chamber; In the drawings the motor 13 is shown as having a shell or casing which completely fills the central portion of the motor case 15, but this inner casing or shell of the motor is provided as shown with air openings 42 V at each end and the cooling current of air will pass through these openings. and inside the shell of the motor and efiectually prevent any over-heating of the motor even with long sustained operation. A

It is desirable that the fan be as light as possible. while still having the necessary strength. A very light and very strong fan may be made, asshown in Figs. 7 and 8, by making the blades of strips of sheet metal bent in V shape to form two blades extendlng at an angle to each other dependent on the number of blades the fan is to have and attaching the blades to a hub by securing the intermediate portion or bend of the strips to the hub by screws or other suitable means.

hat is claimed is 1. In a self-contained suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a suction fan mounted within the casing to rotate about a horizontal axis extending in'the direction of movement of the'cleaner, an electric driving motor mounted immediately behind the fan rasingand in axial alinement with the fan, a rigid suction rozzle extending downward fr-zun the front wallof thefan casing and having a horizontal bottom face with an elongated intake slot extending transversely of the direction of movement of the cleaner for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, said nozzle being in direct and free communication with the fan chamber through the front wall of the fan casing, and the length of the nozzle assage from the intake slot to the center of the opening into the fan chamber being substantially the same, as the distance of the fan ams above the floor, an operating handle pivotally connected to the cleaner to swing vertically, a porous receptacle hung from the operating handle, a discharge conduit opening from the fan casing and leading back to the porous receptacle, and running wheels for supporting the fan casing and motor close to the surface to be cleaned and normally in horizontal position.

2. In a self-contained suction cleaner, the combination of a fan casing, a suction .fan mounted within the casing to rotate about a horizontal axis an electric driving motor mounted immediately behind the fan casing and in axial alinement with the fan, a rigid suction nozzle extending downward from the front wall of the fan casing and having a horizontal bottom face with an elon ated intake slot extending transversely o the direction of movement of the cleaner for engagement with the surface to be cleaned, said nozzle being in direct and free communication with the fan chamber through the front. wall of the fan casing, an operating handle pivotally connected to the cleaner to swing vertically, a porous receptacle hung from the operating handle,a discharge conduit opening from the fan casing and leading back to the porous receptacle, and running wheels for supporting the fan casing and motor normally in horizontal position.

3. In a self-contained suction cleaner, the

combination of a motor casing, a fan casing secured to the motor casing in front thereof with a partition wall separating the fan chamber from the motor chamber, a fan driving motor mounted in the motor casing with its shaft horizontal and extending in the direction of movement of the cleaner and projecting into-the fan chamber, a suction chamber through the front wall of the fan casing and the length of the nozzle passage from the intake slot to the center of the opening into the-fan chamber being substantially the same as thedistance the fan axis 'is above the floor, running wheels mounted on the motor casing to the rear of the center "of gravity of the cleaner and supporting the motor casing and the fan casing close to the surface to be cleaned, and an operating handle pivotally connected to the cleaner to swing vertically, a-porous receptacle hung from the operating handle, and a discharge conduit opening from the fan casingandleading back to the porous receptacle! 4. In a self-contained suction cleaner, the

combination of a suction fan, a driving mtor therefor, a suction nozzle communicating with the fan chamber and projecting downward at the front ofthe machine, and having a horizontal bottom face with an elongated intake slot extending transversely of the'directionof movement of the cleaner for engagement with the surface to nected to the cleaner to swing vertically,

and a stop device adjustable (a) 'to lock the c operating handle in an upright position (b) to permit'a free swinging movemento the handle with a downward limit whereby downward movement beyond such will tilt the cleaner on said running support to raise the nozzle and (c) to permlt the handle'to be swung down substantially to 301 havinga horizontal bottom face withla'nl- 1 :;elongated intake slot extending transversely j .bf-I th e jdirectionf of jmov'ementjof the cleaner 1; [for -engagement with} 1th isurface tof 11g -'cleaned,' running 'iwheelaamo era'tingI-handlej pivotallyiconnected,lto""'t e cleaneuflto swingvertically, and' stopfmeansextendingp between (the. bodyfof {the cleaner and the 5 handle. having a free 40V hlorizontalposition without lifting the nozz e. e

5; In a self-containedsuction cleaner, the

combinationlof a suction fan, a drivinggnm tor therefor, a suct1onjnozz1e,communicat.

,ing withthe fan chamber 'andprojectin j downward at the frontier the machine-an with one of said members and I members, the adjustmentof;saidfstop means varyingl'ithe angular positionof-.; the handle at whic ing with the "fan chamber 'and'pro tin , downward at the'front of the. machine aa having "a horizontal.lbottomf-face lwith an" elongated intake slotlextendingjtransversely of the direction ofmovementof the cleaner p for engagement with-the surface} tohbe gjcleaned, a running support-n'nmnted'to the; rear of the center of gravity ofthe"cleaner,' an operating handle pivotallly-iconnected-toj the cleaner to swing vertica device for limitin the downwardfswingmg movementof the andle whereby; when the handle is moved-downward beyondithe point '1 to-"which its movement relatively/to the port raisethe nozzle,saidfstop.dev1ce cleaner'is limited b Qthe stop deyicetthe on thefirunnm'g su"- I -.of a motor ;ca;s1ng,- afan casing, a motor cleaner will be tilte' 1 the connection v e in'g in 'ad-. justable engagement with the-other of Said -;and cool the motor.

941A pneumatie cleaner, hav' 'bination, a fan, a fan casing, an e ectric motor for. driving the fan, a motor casing, a main-air passage leading to andfrom the v said means comes into "0 eration'. -6. Ina self-contained suction e eaner, the; combination of a suctiomfan, mo tor therefor,asuctioninozzlecommunicatj v air-passage,';and a second andindependent air passage-leading through themotor casand. a, tep

'1 the" weenie ing adjustable toivary' the point in the downward movement of the handle at which thestop device comes into operation.

combination of a suction fan, adrivingmotortherefor, a suction nozzle communicate mg with the fan chamber and projectin of the direction of movement of the cleaner for l engagement with the surface to be cleaned, arunning support in position with the'center of gravity of the cleaner between it nd thenozzle, an operating. handle piv ota y connected to the cleaner to. swing vertically, and a stop the downward swinglng movement of the s 7. In a self-contained suction cleaner, the l device for limiting handle, whereby when the handle is moved a downward beyond the point to which its movement relatively to the cleaner is limited by the stop device the cleaner will be tilted on itsrunning support to lift the'nozzle, said stop device being adjustable to varyppint in the downward movementof the ban e at which the stop device comes into.

operation, and being releasable to permit the handle to swung downward to a substantially horizontal position "without lift- 8. Ina suctiontcleaner, the combination of a motor casing, a fancasing, a motor mounted'in the "motor casing, a fan mounted v inthe naming and driven by.=the motor, a main suction inlet to the fan casing, a

suction nozzle comm catin with said suction inlet, a suction H et om the. motor casing to thefan casing, and an air inlet to themotor casing located to cause. the air entering such inlet, and drawnfrom the motor chamber'intothe fan chamber to pass in com- ";fan casing, 'a'dustcollector located in said 10, A pneumatic cleaner, having, in combmat1on,-'a fan, a fan casing, a dust collector cOnnectedf with thefan casin an electric motorlfor'driv ing the fan,"an .a motor casother end with the fan casing, so that the fan may cause alrtopass through. the

motor casuif to cool the motor, substantially as describe I w 11. In a suctlonlcleaner, the combinatio Iopen at; one end and communicating at mounted in the motor casing, a fan mounted in the fan casing and dnven by the motor, a suction inlet to the fan casing, a suc ti'on nozzle communicating with said suction inlet, an air inlet to the motor chamher, and a suction conduit from the motor chamber in operative relation to the fan casing, through which air entering the motor chamber thgoggh wdnair inlet will be set my hand, in the 

